Securing means for tank caps



Feb. 14, 1939. F, MACAGNO SECURING MEANS FOR TANK CAPS Filed Nov. 12, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet l IHIIWU) Inventor 7 ma.

A iiorney I Feb. 14, 1939. F. MACAGNO SECURING MEANS FOR TANK C APS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 12, 1937 Inventor Feb. 14, 1939.

F. MACAGNO SECURING MEANS FOR TANK CAPS Filed Nov. 12, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I %a city/70 Attorneys Patented Feb. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES SECURING MEANS FOR TANK CAPS Frank Macagno, San Francisco, Calif., assignor of one-fourth to Eugene Taldo, Los Angeles,

Calif.

Application November 12, 1937, Serial No. 174,230

1 Claim.

This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in means for locking tank caps such as the caps of gasoline tanks located on automobiles.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a tank cap which can be secured or unsecured conveniently from a position convenient to the driver.

Another important object of the invention is 10 to provide a cap lock of the character stated which will utilize but a very small amount of electricity.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a cap lock which is of simple construction and not susceptible to the ready develop- Other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following specification.

In the drawings: 2 Figure 1 represents a fragmentary side elevational view showing the tank cap and lock means with the latter partly in section.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view with portions in section and removed.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the cap.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the cap.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view disclosing the electrical connections between the electrical devices involved.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that numeral 5 denotes the tank neck while numeral 6 generally refers to the cap.

As is well known, the upper portion of the neck 6 is flanged inwardly as at I and bent downwardly and this flange is notched out as at 8 to receive the end portions of the cross bar 9. Obviously, when the cross bar 8 which is secured as at ID to the cap 6 is engaged into the notches 8 it can ride against the lower edges of the flanges I and firmly hold the cap 6 in place. However, it is a simple matter to remove these caps without looking means and in carrying out the present invention, the lock means generally referred to by numeral II is employed. This consists of the frame structure [2 disposed outwardly from the shell formation 13 on the side of the neck 5. The frame I2 is provided with the cross member l4 through which the armature I5 is slidable. The armature I5 is also slidable through the end plate I6 of the frame l2 and into the shell I3. The other end of the armature [5 has the head 55 I1 thereon opposed to the adjacent end of the core l8 of the electro-magnet generally referred to by numeral l9. This electro-magnet l9 has the pair of windings 202l thereon.

The cap 6 has a leg 22 depending therefrom and into the shell l3 so that when the cap has been secured in place with the cross bar 9 engaging under the flanges l-'! and the leg is to the position substantially shown in Figure 3, the presence of the adjacent end of the armature l5 Within the shell I3 will prevent return of the leg 22 and obviously prevent removal of the cap 6 until the armature l5 has been retracted. The spring 23 on the armature [5 serves to maintain the armature in the projected position shown in Figure 3 and it can only be retracted when the switch generally referred to by numeral 24 has been actuated by a suitable manual control 25, for energizing the coils 20-2 l As can be seen in Figure 6, numeral 26 denotes the source of current such as a battery connected by the lead 21 to} the contact 28 of the switch 24. Extending from the contact 29 of the switch 24 is the conductor 30 to the coil 20, while the other sideof the coil is grounded. A contact 3| located opposed to the contacts 28-29 is connected by the jumper 32 to the winding 2|.

It can be seen, that the switch plate 33 is pushed from a position bridging none of the contacts to a position in the first instance bridging all three contacts and resulting in the momentary energization of both windings of the electromagnet.

However, when the plate 33 has moved so that only the contacts 28-29 are bridged, one of the windings, namely, the winding 2| will become deenergized, leaving only the winding 20 to hold the armature l5 in retracted position. While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A latch structure of the character stated comprising a shell, an end wall for the shell, a cross member in the intermediate portion of the shell, a frame extending longitudinally in the shell, said frame including narrow elongated members, said frame members being connected together at one end of the frame, said end wall having its edge portion notched to receive the remaining ends of the frame members, a latch member slidably disposed through the end wall and through the cross member, a spring connected at one end to the latch member and being adapted to project the latch member in an outward direction, a head at the inner end of the latch member and an electro-magnet on the inner end of the frame where the elongated narrow members are connected together and in electromagnetic relation with the head at the inner end of the latch member.

FRANK MACAGNO. 

